Packaging machine



March 29, 1966 D. G. KoBlcK 3,242,635

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 unlllllllllfrl 1,1 LlJlLJJ/LLILLLI INVENTOR. DAVID G. KOBICK ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 D. G. KoBlcK 3,242,635

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 29, 1966 D, G, KoBlCK 3,242,635

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG- 4 INVENTOR. DAVID GKOBICK ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,242,635 PACKAGING MACHINE David G. Kobick, 723 Woodmere Drive, Chagrin Falls, Ohio Filed June 1, 1962, Ser. No. 199,317 24 Claims. (Cl. 53-222) This invention relates to packaging machinery and more particularly to a machine for making packages, encasing an object, or objects, in a sheet of flexible material.

In the packaging industry specialized machines for packaging wieners and similar products have been available for some time. With these machines the packages are usually formed in an inverted position. A film of plastic material is positioned over a package forming box sometimes called die bushing. A quant-ity of wieners, or other commodity to be packaged, are placed in a loading enclosure or loader positioned above the film and the box. The loader will usually be rectangular in configuration and of a cross sectional area corresponding to the interior of the package forming box. After an appropriate number of wieners have been positioned in the loader, the wieners are forced downwardly against the plastic and then into the interior of the box. This stretches the plastic fiat and smooth under the wieners in the area that will become the top or face of the finished package. This also folds the plastic upwardly around the perimeter of the face and forms an ear at each corner of the package. The box has camming surfaces known as plows which are contoured to fold the ears at the corners of the forming package. As the wieners are pressed downwardly into the box, these ears are folded so that by lthe time the face of the package is at the furthest extremity of the box, the ears have 'been folded into position for tucking inwardly over the remaining surface of the wieners.

Next, side folding plates known as tuckers are inserted from the sides of the box to tuck the sides of the package snugly across the top of the wieners. An end yfolder is then inserted in the box from the back side folding that end of the package over tightly across the top of the wieners and across the previously tucked side portions. Finally, the package is ejected forward and horizontally from the box and the last or front flap is folded over simultaneously by the camming action of .the box fas the package of wieners is pressed out of the box. The package is then heat sealed to complete the operation.

Previous known machines capable of performing this described operation have had certain inherent drawbacks. A-mong these is that the loader and the package forming box have always been of a fixed predetermined size. Whenever a packager has wished to change from packaging say wieners six inches in length to packaging eight inch wieners or whenever size lhas varied by half inch Ior more, it has been necessary to remove the loader and the box and to replace them with a loader and box of a different size. Not only is this time consuming and cumbersome, but also quite inconvenient and expensive from the standpoint of maintaining an inventory of boxes for all sizes of packages that may be desired from time to time. Further, wieners are normally packaged in pound packages and because of government regulations the packages must weigh at least one pound. Accordingly, variations in the number of wieners to be packaged due to changes in density of the wieners will also necessitate changes of boxes and loaders.

The present invention overcomes these listed and other disadvantages through the provision of a novel and irnproved adjustable die box which is adjustable to provide a cross sectional area of any desired dimension. In the preferred arrangement adjustment of the cross section "ice of the box simultaneously adjusts the cross sectional area of the loading enclosure to a corresponding shape and size. Adjustable film feeding and severing mechanism is also provided. In addition, novel and improved folding and ejecting mechanisms are provided for expediting the formation of packages.

Accordingly, then, `a principal object of the invention is to provi-de a novel and improved packaging machine equipped with an adjustable package forming box.

A related object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine in which both an adjustable package forming 'box and an adjustable loader are utilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism having an adjustable box and loader wherein adjustment of one simultaneously adjusts the other a corresponding amount.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which can be changed to adjust the amount of film delivered lto a centralized position over the die box.

A lfurther object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved folding and ejecting mechanism for a machine for packaging wieners and the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved heat sealing conveyor for conveying finished packages from the die box and sealing the packages.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an adjustable box which includes four relatively movable generally L-shaped 'box members wherein adjacent members have overlapping ngers to define the walls of the Ibox and each member defines one corner of an adjustable Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may 4be had by refer-ring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the improved packaging machine with the film feeder and other parts broken away and removed for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device as seen from the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1 and showing the end folding and ejection mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the device as seen from the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of FIG- URE 1 and showing the side ing mechanisms; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the end folding and ejection mechanism positioned to eject a package from the box.

In the drawings a part of a machine frame in the form of a base plate 10 is shown. For clarity of illustration only the important portions of this frame are shown in the drawings. A package forming boxis -shown generally at 11. The box 11 is mounted on the base plate 10 and extends downwardly through an aperture in the plate. A tubular loader, shown generallyat 12, is above the box 11. The details of the box and loader construction and the manner of mounting the box 11 and the loader 12 on the frame will be explained below.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the mechanisms for supplying film, removing the finished packages and other cooperating structures are shown. To provide an understanding of the operation of the machine these mechanisms and cooperating structures will be described briefly here. A supply of plastic film or cellophane such as coil 13 is provided. At the commencement of a packaging operation a sheet of this plastic film is fed between the loader enclosure 12 and the die box 11. This sheet is fed into position across top loading opening 14 of the box 11 and then severed by a film feeding structure supported by a feed supporting plate 19. This feed structure `will be described below.

After the plastic film has been positioned across the load opening 14, an appropriate number of wieners, or another object to be packaged, is placed in the loader 12, while elevator 16 is immediately under the film to support it. A ram is shown in both a solid line position and a phantom position. This ram is reciprocal along a vertical axis, and both of its pictured positions are obtained during a reciprocation. Normally, the ram, if powered and secured to the machine, will have a dwell position above the loader. It will be `spaced above the loading enclosure far enough to permit the insertion of the wieners.

Once the appropriate number of wieners have been placed in the loader 12, the ram 15 is lowered against the action of 4the elevator 16 to force the wieners and the positioned sheet of film down through the load opening 14 into the die box. As the ram descends, the film is tensioned across the face of the wieners and folded upwardly along the sides `and ends around the perimeter of the face. Corner folds are formed as the forming package continues to descend until the ram reaches the lower end of its stroke.

The elevator 16 is reciprocatably mounted near the base of the box. A relatively light air cylinder urges the elevator 16 upwardly so that it forms a steadying base for the package to be Iformed. The elevator will assume the position shown in FIGURE 3 when a single layer of wieners is to be wrapped, and when there are two layers of wieners the elevator is depressed further to accommodate the second layer. The inherent friction of the wieners and the plastic wrapping material plus the action of tuckers and folders which will be described below will maintain the package and elevator in their appropriate positions once the ram 15 has descended and urged the package to be formed into the package forming station.

Next, side and rear flaps of the package are tucked and folded over and then the package is ejected. The final and front iiap is folded over as the package is ejected onto a heat sealing conveyor 17.

THE PLASTIC FEED MECHANISM A strip of plastic 100 is fed from the coil of plastic film 13 around an idler roller 101, FIGURE 2. The strip of plastic 100 is fed from the idler roller 101 transversely to the right as seen in FIGURE 2, above the feed mechanism support plate 19. A reciprocatable film feeding clamp 102 is provided which selectively grips the plastic film.

At the commencement of a cycle fluid cylinders 103 are energized to shift the reciprocatable feeding clamp 102 to the right as seen in FIGURE 2 from the pictured park position until it is in a feed position substantially abutting -a normally stationary film holding clamp 104. At this time the holding clamp is closed gripping the plastic strip 100 to hold it and then the feeding clamp 102 is opened. The cylinders 103 are then energized in the opposite direction to retract the feeding clamp to the position shown in FIGURE 2. After the feeding clamp 102 has returned to this position, it is again closed to place the mechanism in the position shown in FIG- URE 2. This described operation of the clamps obviously feeds the plastic film across the load opening 14 and tensions it for a subsequent package forming opera- T1011.

Before the ram 15 forces the wieners to be packaged downwardly into the die box 11, a shear 105 is energized to sever the tensioned plastic film near the feeding clamp 102. The holding clamp 104i is then opened while the feeding clamp 102 is maintained in a closed position to ready the film for `a subsequent cycle. When the film has been severed by the shear 105 and the holding clamp 104 has been opened, a piece of plastic of an appropriate size to form a package is free to be forced downwardly into the die box with the materials being packaged. After the ram 15 has fed the material to be packaged downwardly and the ram has returned to its upper dwell position (not shown), the feeding clamp 102 is again fed across the load opening 114 to -feed additional plastic film into position for a subsequent package forming operation.

Because the die box 11 is of an adjustable size, it is necessary to adjust the length of the plastic film severed so that the appropriate amount of film is supplied for a given size of package. To accomplish this adjustment of film size, the shear and the holding clamp 104 are each threadedly connected to a pair of adjustment screws 106. The'adjustment screws are secured together by a chain 107, FIGURE 2, so that rotation of the adjustment knob 108 will cause simultaneous rotation of both adjustment screws.

A locating stop 109 projects from the shear 105, to the left, as seen in FIGURE 2. This locating stop 109 limits leftward travel of the feeding clamp 102. Adjustment of the shear 105 will, through stop 109, simultaneously effect adjustment of the feeding clamp 102 against the action of the cylinders 103 to an appropriate position.

In order to expedite the feeding of a finished package from the die box 11 onto the conveyor 17, the left hand side of the die box 11 as seen in FIGURE 2 is fixed against adjusting movement in the plane of FIGURE 2 as will be described in greater detail below. Accordingly, all adjustment of die box size in the plane of FIGURE 2 relative to the frame 10 is accomplished by the right hand side of the die box. This affects the adjustment of the plastic feed mechanism since it means that any adjustment of the die box in the plane of FIGURE 2 will move the center of the die box and one wishes to orient the plastic symmetrically over the load opening 14. Because the center of the die box moves each time the die box is adjusted, the holding clamp 104 must be adjusted three times as much as the shear 105 so that the two will be spaced equal distances on opposite sides of the center of the die box. To accomplish this the adjustment screws 106 include large diameter major adjustment portions 110 which are in threaded engagement with the holding clamp 104 and smaller diameter minor adjustment portions 111 which have a thread pitch 1/3 the pitch of the larger diameter portion 110. The minor adjustment portions threadedly engage the shear 105.

As an example, suppose the die box is opened `one inch by adjustment of the die box. This means that an extra two inches of plastic is required to accommodate the extra inch on both the top and the bottom of the package. In addition to separating the fixed clamp 104 and the shear 105 two inches it is necessary to move a point which is midway between them one-half inch to the right to again center a severed pieces of plastic over the die box 11. When the knob 10S is rotated an appropriate amount to move the movable clamp 104 and the knife two inches further apart, this travel is accomplished by one-half inch of movement of the shear 105 to the left and one and onehalf inches of movement of the stationary clamp 104 to the right.

Another advantage of this manual adjustment of the spacing between the clamps and shear is less apparent. The material being used to wrap the wieners is usually printed. During the printing process indicia are printed on the strip of film to indicate the appropriate places for severing the film to obtain pieces with the printing properly oriented and centered. The locations of these indicia with respect to one another vary because of uctuations and variations in the printing process. Accordingly, to keep the film strip properly oriented for severing with the printed matter located so that the top face of the finished package will bear the desired printed matter, it is necessary from time to time to adjust the relative spacing of clamps and the shear. The manual adjustment accomplished through knob 108 permits the operator to make minor adjustments in the plastic feed from time to time as wieners are being packaged so that the film is malintained in a properly oriented condition when the machine is in use.

THE DIE BOX AND LOADER The die box 11 includes four generally L-shaped box members 21-24. The box members are vertically elongated and arranged such that each provides one corner of a rectangular box. The members define what may be referred to, in the embodiment shown, as front land rear walls 25, 26 and spaced side walls 27, 2S. The portions of the members defining the front and rear walls 25, 26 include overlapping fingers designated by the numeral 30. These fingers 30 overlap to define continuous front and rear walls even though the box members are adjustable. Thus, as the members 23, 24 are ladjusted toward and 'away from the members 21, 22, in a manner whichwill be described in greater detail below, the overlapping fingers provide a smoth and continuous supporting side wall.

As an examination of FIGURES l and 2 will show, the front and rear side walls 25, 26 have inner surfaces which are rounded and tapered outwardly at the top loading opening 14. Whenever a group of wieners and a sheet of plastic are forced downwardly into the box 11 the-se rounded top surfaces will cause the front and rear portions of the plastic sheet to be folded upwardly smoothly over the front and rear ends of the collection of wieners. This lfolding simultaneously tensions the face of the package and forms two end walls of the package. These rounded surfaces will provide smooth, even folding without the danger of tearing the plastic. In addition, if the wieners are slightly oversize, these rounded surfaces tend to cam the wieners together squeezing them into the box and forcing the wieners to .assume a compressed shape so that the finished package will have the proper front to rear dimension.

As the forming package is pushed downwardly past the camming surfaces at the inlet opening 14, the front and rear edges of the plastic are, as suggested above, folded up. These folds will extend the full width of the plastic so that, at this juncture, portions of the plastic generally in the shape of a fiat square U w111 extend past the ends of the wieners.

As the wieners and plastic are pressed further downwardly into the box, deflector plates 32 will act against the ends of the package folding the plastic at the ends upwardly. These defiectors 32 are each a part of the corner members 21-24. Each is secured to the remainder of the corner member by a strap 33 so that the defiector is held in spaced relationship with the remainder of the corner member to define a vertical slot 34. As a descending package comes past the top of the defiector members and the ends of the package are folded up, ears will remain which project outwardly into these vertical slots.

Each corner memberincludes a plow 35 which is positioned immediately below the associated vertical slot 34. The plow together with its associated deflector plate define plow slots 36. The ear-s of the package are cammed inwardly by the plows while maintained in these slots so that they are folded over. Thus, the ears are converted into pleat-like corner folds in the package as the forming package is moved downwardly to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 at the package forming station.

The deflector plates 32 may, if desired, be equipped with overlapping fingers corresponding to the fingers 30. Normally they are maintained in such close proximity with Vone another that it has been found they are not necessary for many applications. However, in the lower portion of the side walls where the final package forming operations are performed, overlapping fingers 37 are provided so that the side walls are indeed continuous. Thus, as the package is forced into the package forming station in the lower portion of the chamber lsecured against movement relative to the frame 10.

defined by the die box, the overlapping fingers 37 will assure endwise alignment of the wieners.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a pair of side folding plates known yas tuckers 38, 39 are provided. These tuckers are supported on air cylinders 40, 41 which in turn are secured to the underside of the base plate 10. After the package has been pressed downwardly into its package forming station and the corner folds have been formed, the tuckers 38, 39 are inserted into the interior of the box to tuck the package sides and corner folds downwardly. In order to permit the insertion of these tuckers 38, 39 into the box, slots 42, only one of which is visible in FIGURE 2, are provided in the sides of the box. In operation the cylinders 40, 41 are actuated substantially simultaneously to insert the tuckers through these slots 42.

After the sides of the package have been tucked inwardly by the tuckers 38, 39, the rearward end of the package is folded down by a rearward folder plate 44. This rearward folder 44 is positioned below the base plate 10. It is supported by a folder actuation cylinder 45 mounted on top of the base plate 10. During operation the folder cylinder 45 is actuated while the tuckers 38, 39 are still in the box. This permit-s the folder 44 to commence to enter the box and lay the package end fold over the side tucks as the tuckers are withdrawn. Folding the end fold over the tucks as the tuckers are withdrawn prevents the tucks from returning to their original shape due to the inherent resiliency of the plastic.

One of the outstanding features of the invention resides in the versatility of the box 11 and the loader 12. It will be seen that four goosenecks 50 are provided which connect corners 51-54 of the loader 12 to the corresponding corner members of the box 11. Thus, the loader corner member 51 is secured by one gooseneck 50 to the box corner member 21 and always maintained immediately above it. Similarly, the loader corner members 52-54 are maintained above the box corner members 22-24 respectively.

A pair of lengthwise adjustment screws 60, 61 are rotatably supported above the base plate 10. These screws are referred to as lengthwise adjustment screws in that they adjust the dimension of the package from front to rear even though this dimension may at times, as shown in the drawings, be less than the width dimension of the package. The lengthwise adjustment screws 60, 61 are lconnected together by a' chain 62 and gears mounted on screw 61, while the lengthwise adjustment members 73,

74 are on the screw 60. Each of these lengthwise adjustwment members 7l-74 is positioned in one of a plurality `fof guide slots 75. These guide slots are in box member drive extensions 76 which project outwardly from the .corners of the box. The V-shaped slots 75 permit width adjustment to be obtained even though the longitudinal screws 60, 61 are secured to the plate 10.

Each of the adjustment screws 60, 61 has both left and right handed threaded portions so that adjustment of them will cause the corner members 21, 24 to move as a unit relative to the corner members 22, 23 moving as a second unit and adjust the spacing between these units. In order to maintain the die box properly oriented'with respect to the conveyor 17, the corner members 22, 23 are In the embodiment shown this is accomplished with a pair of upstanding box locators 65 which are fixed to the frame 1f). The locators 65 extend into overlapping chan- Vnels 66, 67 secured respectively to corner members 22,

23. The locators 65 are slidable relative to the channels to accommodatewidth adjustment of the die box.

Width adjustment is obtained by width adjustment screws 77, 73 which are also rotatably mounted on base plate 1li. These width adjustment screws threadably engage four adjustment blocks 79. The adjustment blocks 79 carry a pair of adjustment shafts Si), 1. The adjustment shaft Si) is slidably connected to the corner members 23, 24, while the adjustment shaft 81 is slidably connected to the corner members 21, 22.

When width adjustment knob 83 is rotated the screw 77 is caused to rotate and, through a driving engagement of a chain 84, the screw 78 is caused to rotate simultaneously an equal amount. These rotating screws will cause the width adjustment shafts 80, 81 to move toward and away from one another bringing the box corner members 23, 24 as a unit toward and away from the box corner members 21, 22 as another unit.

Because the shafts Sil, 81 are slidably connected to the box extensions '76, lengthwise adjustment can be obtained without having any restriction imposed by the width adjustment mechanism. Obviously, length adjustment shafts corresponding to the width adjustment shafts 8f), 81 can be provided, rather than the lengthwise adjustment slides 7i-'74- and the coacting guide slots 75.

E] ECTION AND CONVEYING MECHANISMS Several of the features of this invention reside in ejection and conveying mechanisms. The ejection mechanism includes the folder and the cylinder 44, 4S. An ejection Icylinder 46 is mounted on a reciprocating ejection plate 47. This reciprocating plate 47 is secured to the rearward folder 44 so that it reciprocates with it. Thus, whenever the folder 44 is extended through a rearward slot 49 into the interior of the box, the ejection cylinder 46 and its supporting plate i7 are moved forwardly into an ejection ready position.

At the conclusion of the folding the ejection cylinder 46 may be actuated. A pusher 48 mounted on the ejection cylinder advances to eject the package from the box and onto the conveyor 17. The pusher 48 includes a camming surface 49 which is used to depress the spring elevator 16 in the event that the elevator is in the path of the pusher 4S.

The conveyor 17 includes a pair of package holding members in the form of an upper heated belt 85- and a lower compression belt 86. The heated and compression belts are supported respectively by conveyor frames 87, 88. A scissor-like lever system 89 connects the frames 87, 88 together. The scissor lever system includes upper and lower pins 90, 91 Which are slidable respectively in slots 92, 93 formed in the frames 87, 8S. A sprin-g 95 is interposed between the heated conveyor frame 87 and the upper slidable pin 90. The spring 95 normally biases the upper pin 90 to the left as in FIGURE 2 so as tending to close the scissor lever system 89 and bias the compression belt 85 upwardly toward the heated belt.

The frame 88 of the compression belt includes an extension 97 which extends under the elevator 16. Whenever the elevator is depressed as a package being formed is forced downwardly into the load station, the elevator acts against the extension 97 to shift the compression belt 86 downwardly a corresponding distance. This spaces the heated and compression belts 85, 86 from one another a distance appropriate to receive a package and to maintain the package under compression as it is transported by the conveyor 17 and simultaneously heat sealed by the heated belt 85.

While the invention has been described with a great deal of detail it is believed that it essentially comprises a frame with a plurality of relatively movable members mounted on it to define a tubular package forming box and a means to adjust the members relatively whereby to adjust the size of the box.

The invention also includes novel ejection and conveyor mechanisms for a packaging machine. The ejector is carried with a rearward folder so that the ejector is moved from a storage position to a ready position as the end flap is folded and thereafter the ejection mechanism may be actuated to eject the finished package. The conveyor mechanism is actuated by an elevator so as to be properly spaced for gripping a package. In addition, the invention includes a no'vel film feeding.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine for packaging wieners or the like comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a plurality of members connected to the frame and providing a tubular structure;

(c) at least one of the members` being movably connected to the frame;

(d) said tubular structure being open at a loading end and defining a packaging chamber;

(e) adjustmnet means connected to the frame and each such movable member to selectively adjust the position of each such movable member and thereby adjust the size of said chamber; and,

(f) each such adjustable member including fingers extending longitudinally with respect to the path of member adjustment and overlapping with fingers of a contiguous member such that said fingers coact to `define a continuous wall in all adjusted positions within a range of adjustment.

2. A machine for packaging wieners or the like comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a plurality of members connected to the frame and providing a tubular structure;

(c) at least one of the members being movably connected to the frame for movement along a first path;

(d) at least a second one of the members being movably connected to the frame for movement along a second path transverse to the first;

(e) said tubular structure being open at a loading end and defining a packaging chamber;

(f) adjustment means interposed between the frame `and each such movable member to selectively adjust the position of each such movable member and thereby adjust the size of said chamber; and,

(g) each such member adjustable along the first path including fingers extending longitudinally with respect to the first path of member adjustment and overlapping with fingers of a contiguous member such that the fingers coact to define a continuous Wall in al1 adjusted positions within a range of adjustment.

3. A machine for packaging wieners or the like comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a plurality of members connected to the frame and providing a box structure;

(c) said members being movably connected to the frame;

(d) said box structure being open at a loading end and defining a packaging chamber;

(e) adjustment means interposed between the frame and said members to selectively adjust the position of said members and thereby adjust the size of said chamber and the size of the said loading end opening; and,

(f) said members including first and second spaced sets of overlapping fingers defining first and second continuous `side walls respectively throughout a range of member side walls adjustment; and,

(g) said members including portions defining spaced end walls with each end wall having a spaced pair of plow slots.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a film feeding mechanism is above the structure and comprises:

(a) a first clamp mounted onA the frame and normally maintained in a stationary position;

(b) a reciprocable feed clamp mounted on the frame and reciprocatable from a parked position to a feed position adjacent the first clamp and return;

(c) a shear connected to the frame and between the clamps when the reciprocatable clamp is in its parked position; and,

(d) an adjustment means secured to the clamps and the shear to adjust their relative spacing.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) a film feeding and shearing means is connected to the frame for successively and repeatedly positioning pieces of packaging film material across the top of the structure one at a time; and,

(b) a film adjustment means is provided to adjust the film feeding and shearing means relative to the structure whereby to maintain the successively positioned pieces oriented with respect to the structure.

6. In a packaging mechanism including a means for supplying a quantity of plastic film to a packaging station and a means for conveying away and sealing a pack- 'age formed at said station the combination of:

(a) a frame;

(b) a package forming box mounted on the frame and including four members of L-shaped cross section;

(c) said members being arranged such that each defines a corner of the box;

(d) said members including overlapping fingers defining adjustable side walls of said box;

(c) means connected to said members to vary the spacing thereof .and thereby adjust said side walls and the size of said box;

(f) means secured to the frame and selectively insertable into the interior of the box for tucking the sides of a package; and,

(g) other means secured to the frame and insertable into the box for folding at least one end of` a pack- A tion and a means for conveying away and sealing a package formed at said station the combination of:

(a) aframe;

(b) a package forming box mounted on the frame and including a plurality of members each defining at least part of a plurality of sides of said box;

(c) said members including overlapping fingers defining adjustable box side walls; n

(d) means connected to said members to vary the spacing thereof and thereby adjust said adjustable sidewalls and the size of said box;

(e) means secured to the Vframe and selectively insertable into the interior of the box for'tucking the sides of a package; and, y

(f) other means secured to the frame and insertable into the box for folding atleast one end of a package and ejecting a package from the box.

9.. In a packaging mechanism including a means for supplying a quantity of plastic film to a packaging station and a means for conveying away and sealing a packr age formed at said station the combination of:

(c) said members being arranged such that each defines a corner of the box;

(d) said members including overlapping fingers defining adjustable side walls of said box;

(e) screws each connected to two of said members to vary the spacing thereof and thereby adjust said side walls and the size of said box;

(f) movable plates secured to the frame and selectively insertable into the interior of the box for tucking the sides yof a'package;

(g) other movable plates secured to the frame and insertable into the box for folding at least one end of a package; and,

(h) means for ejecting a package from the box.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular structure is a box and wherein:

(a) first and second side tucking plates connected to the frame on opposite sides of the box;

(b) power means connected to the first and second plates to selectively move said first and second plates reciprocally along a path into such work station to tuck the sides of a package being formed;

(c) a third folding plate connected to the frame and reciprocal along a path transverse to the path of the first and second plates;

(d) an ejection member connected to the third plate and movable therewith; and,

(e) other power means connected to the third plate and to the ejection means to move the third .plate into the work station thereby to fold the end of a package 'and simultaneously to move the ejection means to a ready position and thereafter to move the ejection means into the work station to eject a package.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said ejection means including another power means movable with the third plate and actuatable when in the ready position to -eject apackage.

12. A packaging machine comprising:

(a) a bed;

(b) first and second spaced and parallel box adjustment screws journaled on the frame;

(c) first and second drive elements threadedly connected to the first screw;

(d) third and fourth drive elements lthreadedly connected to the second screw;

(e) third and fourth adjustment screws journaled on the frame;

(f) fifth and sixth drive elements threadedly connected to the third screw;

(g) seventh and eighth drive elements threadedly connected to the fourth screw;

(h) said third and fourth adjustment screws being generally parallel to one another and normal to first and second screws;

(i) first, second, third and fourth vertically elongated box members each of generally L-shaped cross section,

(j) said rst and second drive elements being connected to the first and second box members;

(k) said third and fourth drive elements being connected to the third and fourth box members;

(l) said fth and sixth drive elements being connected -to the first and third box members;

(m) said seventh and eighth drive elements being connected to the second and fourth box members;

(n) each of said screws including both left and right hand threaded portions;

(o) means to rotate the first and second screws and thereby move thefirst and third box members as a first unit relative to the second and fourth box members as a second unit wherebyto adjust the spacing between the units; and,

(p) other means to rotate the third and fourth screws whereby to move the first and second box members as a unit relative to the third and fourth box members as another unit thereby to adjust the spacing between the rst and second box members relative to the third and fourth box members.

tube above the box of an adjustable size corresponding to the size of the box. 16. In a packaging machine the combination of:

1 2 (g) a conveyor positioning means interposed between one of the members and the elevator means to position the members a distance from one another appropriate for the thickness of the package being formed.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein each of said box 5 17. A package forming mechanism comprising: members includes a cam slot. (a) a frame 14. The device of claim 12 wherein a first flexible (b) a plurality of relatively adjustable box members power transmission member drivingly connects the third defining side and end walls of a box of adjustable, and fourth screws together. rectangular, cross sectional configuration;

1S. Apackaging machine comprising: 10 (c) a load tube spaced above and aligned with said (a) a bed; box;

(b) first and second spaced and parallel box adjust- (d) means connected to the tube and box maintainment screws journaled on the frame; ing the tube above and aligned with the box and (C) first and Second drive elements threadedly COnconnecting the tube and box to `the frame;

nected to the first screw; 15 (e) adjustment means connected to the box members (d) third and fourth drive elements threadedly conto adjust the cross sectional size and configuration nected to the second screw; thereof;

(e) third and fourth adjustment screws journaled on (f) the side walls of said box including overlapping the frame; fingers defining continuous side walls in all adjust- (f) fifth and sixth drive elements threadedly connectment positions; and,

ed to the third screw; (g) the end walls of the box including plow slots for (g) seventh and eighth drive elements threadedly forming corners of apackage.

connected to the fourth screw; 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the members de- (h) said third and fourth adjustment screws being fining the end walls of the slots include overlapping fingenerally parallel to one another and normal to gers below the slots defining continuous end walls in all first and second screws; adjustment positions.

(i) first, second, third and fourth vertically elongated 19. The device of claim 17 wherein:

box members each of generally L-Shaped CTOSS SeC- (a) a film feeding and shearing means is connected to tion; the frame for successively and repeatedly position- Said rSt and SeCOIld drive elements being Connecting pieces 0f packaging film material across the top ed to the first and second box members; of the die box and below the tube one piece at a (k) said third and fourth drive elements being contime; and,

nected to the third and fourth bOX members; (b) a film adjustment means is provided to adjust the (l) said fifth and sixth drive elements being connected film feeding and shearing means relative to the die to the first and third box members; box whereby to maintain the successively positioned (m) said seventh and eighth drive elements being C011- pieces oriented with respect to the die box.

nected to the second and fourth box members; 20. A package forming mechanism comprising: (n) each of said screws including both left and right (a) a frame;

hand threaded portions; (b) a plurality of relatively adjustable box members (o) means to rotate the first and second screws and defining side and end walls of a box of adjustable,

thereby move the first and third box members as a rectangular, cross sectional configuration; first unit relative to the second and fourth box mem- (c) a plurality of relatively adjustable load tube members as a second unit whereby to adjust the spacing bers defining side and end walls of an adjustable between the units; load tube spaced above and aligned With said box,

(p) other means to rotate the third and fourth screws said tube having a cross sectional size and configurawhereby to move the first and second box members tion substantially identical -to lthe box;

as a unit relative to the third and fourth box mem- (d) means connected to the tube and box maintaining bers as another unit thereby to adjust the spacing the tube above and aligned with the box and conbetween the first and second box members relative necting the tube and box to the frame;

to the third and fourth box members; (e) adjustment means connected to the box and tube (q) a gooseneck connected to each box member; members to adjust the cross sectional size and con- (r) an L-shaped loading tube member secured to each figuration thereof;

gooseneck;and, (f) the side walls of said box including overlapping (s) said loading tube members being spaced frOm and fingers defining continuous side walls iu all adjustabove said box whereby to define a square loading ment positions; and,

(g) the end walls of the box including plow slots for forming covers of a package. 21. The device of claim 20 wherein the load tube mem- (a) a frame; (b) an adjustable die box on the frame, said die box including members having overlapping portions debers are L-shaped and include overlapping ngers whereby the end and side walls 0f the tube are continuous in all adjustment positions.

fining continuous side walls in all adjustment positions; (c) elevator means connected to the frame and posi- 22. A package forming mechanism comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a plurality of relatively adjustable box members tioned for feeding a package to be formed through defining side and end walls of a box of adjustable, the die box to a package forming station; rectangular, cross sectional configuration; (d) ejection means connected to the frame and posi- (e) a load tube spaced above and aligned with said tioned for ejecting a forming package from the die box; box; (d) means connected to the tube and box maintaining (e) conveyor means connected to the frame and comthe tube above and aligned with the box and conprising first and second package holding members necting the tube and box to the frame; and means biasing the members toward one another; (e) adjustment means connected to the box members (f) said conveyor means being positioned to receive to adjust the cross sectional size and configuration an ejected package being formed; and, thereof;

(f) the side Walls of said box including overlapping ngers defining continuous side walls in all adjustment positions;

(g) the end walls of the box including plow slots for forming corners of a package;

(h) means to position a piece of package forming iilm below the load tube and above the box;

(i) elevator means reciprocal through the box from a load position bel-ow the tube for supporting the film to an unload position near the base of the box; and,

(j) interleaving tucking and folding means for folding over end and side portions of a forming package with corner folds formed by the plow slots when the forming package descends through the die box.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein a conveyor is provided to receive a package on ejection from the box and wherein the conveyor has upper and lower belts spaced a distance corresponding to the thickness of the package by action of a linkage connecting the belts and coaction of the belts with the elevator.

24. In a packaging machine the combination of:

(a) a frame;

(b) an adjustable die box on the frame;

(c) elevator means connected to the frame and positioned for feeding a package to be formed through the die box to a package forming station;

(d) ejection means connected to the frame and posi- 14 tioned for ejecting a forming package from the die box; (e) conveyor means connected to 4the frame and comlprising rst and second package holding belts con- 5 nected together by a scissor lever system and means biasing the belts toward one another; (f) said conveyor means being positioned to receive an ejected package being formed; and, (g) a conveyor positioning projection interposed between one of the belts and the elevator means to position the belts a distance from one another appropriate for the thickness of the package being formed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,258 5/ 1901 Whitman. 789,531 5/1905 Forbes 53-221 1,515,937 11/1924 Dippel.

1,810,156 6/1931 Brandenburg 53-221 2,729,042 1/ 1956 Brook 53-389 2,817,199 12/ 1957 Schlemmer 53-220 2,949,002 8/ 1960 Zwarycz 53--389 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS s. MCGEHEE, Examiner. 

22. A PACKAGE FORMING MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME; (B) A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY ADJUSTABLE BOX MEMBERS DEFINING SIDE AND END WALLS OF A BOX OF ADJUSTABLE, RECTANGULAR, CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION; (C) A LOAD TUBE SPACED ABOVE AND ALIGNED WITH SAID BOX; (D) MEANS CONNECTED TO THE TUBE AND BOX MAINTAINING THE TUBE ABOVE AND ALIGNED WITH THE BOX AND CONNECTING THE TUBE AND BOX TO THE FRAME; (E) ADJUSTMENT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BOX MEMBERS TO ADJUST THE CROSS SECTIONAL SIZE AND CONFIGURATION THEREOF; (F) THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID BOX INCLUDING OVERLAPPING FINGERS DEFINING CONTINUOUS SIDE WALLS IN ADJUSTMENT POSITIONS; (G) THE END WALLS OF THE BOX INCLUDING PLOW SLOTS FOR FORMING CORNERS OF A PACKAGE; (H) MEANS TO POSITION A PIECE OF PACKAGE FORMING FILM BELOW THE LOAD TUBE AND ABOVE THE BOX; (I) ELEVATOR MEANS RECIPROCAL THROUGH THE BOX FROM A LOAD POSITION BELOW THE TUBE FOR SUPPORTING THE FILM TO AN UNLOAD POSITION NEAR THE BASE OF THE BOX; AND, (J) INTERLEAVING TUCKING AND FOLDING MEANS FOR FOLDING OVER END AND SIDE PORTIONS OF A FORMING PACKAGE WITH CORNER FOLDS FORMED BY THE PLOW SLOTS WHEN THE FORMING PACKAGE DESCENDS THROUGH THE DIE BOX. 